The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 15
I am like that.
Once I’ve made a decision, I have to act immediately.
Overthinking and hesitating isn’t my style. If I said it, I should take responsibility for it; that’s what a man does, right?
The next morning, as soon as the sun rose, I began the process of forming a club.
“Park Ki-hyuk, over here. Please fill out the application form I just gave you and submit it. Write the club name, purpose, and the checked sections.”
Club Name: Hell Without an Exit
Purpose: Infinite Sparring
A club for real strong people that starts with a fist bump.
Once you walk through the door, you’re already strong! Why? Because the door will be ridiculously heavy. At least 200 kilos? The weak won’t survive. Get strong, you rookie.
I wrote it down without missing a single word.
Wow!! Even while writing, my heart felt grand.
“Uh, Hell Without an Exit. H-huh… the club name is quite extreme. The purpose is Infinite… Sparring?”
“It means we will spar infinitely, just as the words say.”
“……”
The staff’s pupils shook as they realized what “infinite sparring” meant, and they visibly panicked at the thought of making the door over 200 kilos.
Feeling they couldn’t just leave it at that, they tried to dissuade me, citing various reasons such as noise and safety while discussing the sparring court.
But I’m a guy who gets things done if I commit.
I handed over a document.
This is what they call a “Mom card.”
“We will build a special sparring court that is currently being utilized by Optimum. The protective gear will also be top-notch. This is also supported by Optimum.”
“Ha, ha, ha…”
Seeing the document promising unlimited support from Optimum, the staff person seemed to realize they had lost control of the situation and gave up, fully committing to their role.
What could they say, since I would bear all the responsibility and costs?
“Your application has been accepted. Now, all you need to do is go to the student council for approval, and you know the responsible professor, right? Send the club formation certification via official document.”
Surprisingly, establishing a club wasn’t that difficult considering its importance in the academy. But after thinking for a moment, the answer came to me right away.
What students really want from clubs is connections. This way, they can prepare for their academy life and, further on, for raids or teaming up for their futures.
Such connections hold great significance. They need seniors to pull them up and juniors to push them forward, but a newly formed club is just that: new, with nothing in place.
Naturally, it’s less appealing to those wanting connections.
Anyway, from my standpoint, this was actually good. The start is half the battle, and a refreshing start is always nice.
After finishing the application submission, I headed straight to the student council. As soon as I entered the entrance, I was met with the impressive sight of hundreds of soju boxes stacked against one wall.
Do these dreadful drinkers realize their muscles are diminishing… After a moment of pointless thoughts, I aimed for approval.
However, the problem lay in their attitude.
Whatever I said, they kept responding with, “That’s difficult. We can’t do that. What do you think we’re relying on?” as if they were the ones in charge.
I must confess, I was a bit excited then.
Have I been living too kindly lately? My hands were itching, and this seemed like an opportunity to feel that thrill again.
I silently prayed.
Please! Get even more excited! Don’t hold back!!
But in the midst of our verbal tussle, hearing my name “Park Ki-hyuk” made them hesitate for a moment.
I silently cheered for them. “Don’t flinch, you punks! We need to uphold the senior’s dignity!”
Fortunately, as if sensing my desire, a few of them took a firm stance against me.
Claiming they couldn’t acknowledge me, saying they needed to see my abilities.
Right! That’s it! That’s what I wanted!
I followed them, secretly cheering.
And what happened next? Do I really need to say it out loud?
“Ugh!!”
“Cough!”
“P-please, let me go.”
The thrill was sweet.
The approval from the student council wrapped up easily, and now only the situation with the responsible professor remained.
But as everyone knows, my relationship with professors isn’t good.
If I charged in as I was, it was obvious they would refuse. In fact, if they outright rejected me, that would be the gentlemanly thing to do. There was no telling what sort of petty people might come out and tease me with various complaints.
Surprisingly, the jealousy of adults is persistent and disgusting.
The problem is this was an area I couldn’t control. It’s the professor’s authority, what can I do? I can’t forge an official document.
At that moment, I briefly considered holding back. They say a gentleman’s revenge takes ten years, so maybe I should just grit my teeth and bow my head.
But I’m neither a gentleman nor a saint.
I’m a Demon Lord.
If I see such nonsense in front of me? I’d immediately break their spine.
Is it too much to ask to just establish a club?
So, am I going to give up?
Do you still not know me?
I am Park Ki-hyuk.
There’s no way “giving up” exists in my dictionary.
Just as Park Ki-hyuk predicted, when word spread that he was establishing a club, the professors all sprang into action.
“We must show them what we’re made of this time. No matter how strong they are, their character is abysmal.”
“Exactly. Even if the academy pursues strength, that unruly brat needs to be tamed.”
“What do the professors think they know? Back in my day, we didn’t even walk in our master’s shadow. Tsk, the academic authority has fallen to the ground.”
“However, forcibly imposing restrictions on a student’s autonomy like this…”
“Right. We’re not just teaching academics. In a battlefield where swords fly, aggression is essential. Not allowing this level of audacity is a problem.”
Given the educational characteristics of Korean academies, the role of the leader is significant, and naturally, it’s true that the authority of professors is lower than in other academies.
In this context, the emergence of an incomprehensible monster like Park Ki-hyuk diminished the professors’ authority, which was already precarious.
There are even precedents.
Park Su-hyeok. A monstrous individual who, during his freshman year, visited professors and took them all down.
Amidst those listening silently, however, Professor Hwang Jun-yeop, who had deep feelings towards Park Ki-hyuk due to their previous evaluation, raised his hand to speak.
“Our academy places as much importance on autonomy as on cooperation. If we block Park Ki-hyuk’s establishment of a club without justification, it could backfire on us.”
“Uh-huh, that makes sense. Park Ki-hyuk has the witch of Optimum behind him.”
Optimum is the academy’s largest sponsor; naturally, everyone would have to tread carefully.
“So we need to change our approach. If they present a justification, then we can counter with justification.”
“What does that mean?”
“I will take on the role of the responsible professor.”
“Ho-ho, I see! This person has a clever scheme!”
“Tsk, must you go that far?”
When you observe it, you can see it clearly. The seasoned professors caught on to Hwang Jun-yeop’s intentions.
Hwang Jun-yeop planned to become the responsible professor and h*rass Park Ki-hyuk repeatedly. There are many ways to do this: throwing chores at him, delaying approvals, or rejecting events.
With this kind of justification struggle, professors have more authority than one might think.
While some professors were expressing their disdain, some were seen frowning, but no one intervened.
Though their methods were different, everyone agreed on this part.
“A leash needs to be put on a tiger that rampages without knowing its place. I will take the lead. Please lend me your strength.”
Thus, the meeting seemed to conclude.
The professors got their leash, Hwang Jun-yeop got his petty revenge, and everyone was satisfied.
A moment later, when the door opened and a teaching assistant entered, they all smiled, thinking, “Of course.”
“Park Ki-hyuk has submitted the application.”
But that was short-lived; everyone’s faces twisted at the next words from the assistant.
“However… the responsible professor is reportedly Yggdrasil.”
Yggdrasil.
The pinnacle of the academy, unapproachable even by the dean, let alone the president.
Some say.
Yggdrasil is the embodiment of the academy.
The existence of her allows the Korean academy to exist.
While that’s an exaggeration, it’s not entirely wrong.
Many countries wish to have an academy, but there are only eight with one.
Their commonality is the existence of a ‘Guardian Spirit.’
Without a guardian spirit, there’s no academy. In other words, without Yggdrasil, the academy couldn’t have ever been established in the first place.
Yet, despite this fame, meeting Yggdrasil isn’t particularly difficult; all academy students can use the Gate. Entering the walking path known as the ‘Forest of Wisdom,’ one can see her quite frequently.
Because of this, students don’t shy away from her. They don’t hesitate to share their troubles and sometimes ask for advice.
In those moments, she bestows wise counsel with a gentle smile.
However, this great and wise Yggdrasil is currently very flustered.
“Hey! Yggdrasil! Let’s see your face!!”
This man barged into the forest and called for her.
Because of Park Ki-hyuk.
“Be my responsible professor.”
What an incredibly audacious request. That’s what makes it all the more interesting.
Typically, a normal human would feel intimidated by their status and naturally lower themselves, yet Park Ki-hyuk stood confidently, without a hint of submission. He was unabashed.
It was as if they were friends, looking each other in the eye from an equal footing.
“When did I last meet someone who could be so bold in front of me?”
As she dwelled in her nearly eternal memories, she ultimately gave up.
There had never been one. No one had ever treated her so comfortably as Park Ki-hyuk was.
Was this why she responded to his proposal?
“Alright.”
She felt curious.
What kind of flower will the seed named Park Ki-hyuk bloom into?
A smile blossomed on Yggdrasil’s face.
*
I must admit.
Things have worked out better than I initially thought.
Was it Yggdrasil? She communicated far better than expected. I didn’t think she would readily send over the official document.
I had even planned for an intense physical confrontation with the professors, yet Yggdrasil spared many.
Of course, it wasn’t free.
Asking for unilateral favors would be begging.
Did you think I would stoop to begging? How embarrassing.
If Yggdrasil becomes our responsible professor, we will handle whatever tasks she assigns us. For example, we would tackle various troublesome tasks around the academy, like dealing with the Purple Gate.
From my perspective, it was a deal with no drawbacks. Since I’m already eager for practical experience, a Gate? Thank you, that’s an overwhelming blessing.
With this win-win deal wrapped up, we currently ascended a mountain toward the first mission we were to receive as a deposit.
“Ughh. Grandpa, driving like this…… Ahhh!”
“We’ll be there soon.”
Bump, bump.
The vehicle raced up the steep mountain road.
“d*mn it! This is insane! Why do I have to come to a place like this even on the weekend?!”
“That’s because we’re in the same group.”
“Isn’t this a club?!”
“Hey, why so rushed? Finish your sentence in Korean… And as of yesterday, we became club members.”
“That’s nonsense! I never agreed to that!!”
“No? You signed it on the application, didn’t you? Then that means you agreed.”
“That’s because you forced me to sign while I was unconscious!”
I had no argument. She wasn’t wrong.
Yesterday, during our joyful and happy Squat Day, I crushed my 150-kilo squats in 10 sets and collapsed, and she quickly got me to sign.
Still, it feels a little unjust.
Why is it only me being scrutinized when Han Jun-woo is quietly being complicit in the back?
“Isn’t it exciting though? Now we can spend our weekends together. My pecs are already trembling.”
“Get that hideous thing away. And choose your words carefully. This is not about togetherness, it’s training.”
“Does that even matter? Look at us. We are blessed. While others are applying for Gates and waiting for approval, look at us! This one piece of paper from Yggdrasil grants us a pass. Not only that? We get funding, earn money, train, how great is that! Right, Jun-woo?”
“I agree.”
“Shut up! You! You! All of you are dead…… Ahh!”
Bump, the car took a wild lurch.
Mary’s elder cried out “Grandpa!!” while her butler calmly smiled, saying, “Hehe, young lady. We’re almost there.”
As I felt before, that old man isn’t to be underestimated.
“By the way, did you say it’s level 2?”
“Uh, it says ‘Ogre Nest’.”
“A Boss is bound to show up. This could be a challenge.”
Han Jun-woo expressed some worry, yet despite saying it wouldn’t be easy, his eyes glimmered with anticipation.
Such a combat light. What a commendable attitude. If only our Mary resembled him even half as much…
“What are you looking at? Get lost.”
…If she doesn’t resemble him, then I’ll just have to make her. I’ll ensure that she becomes a body that knows nothing but combat.
Thus, we endured countless bumps and jolts before finally reaching our destination.
“Grandpa, get us a helicopter, and why does this place look so hideous?”
Mary frowned deeply while preparing her gear.
In her left hand was a buckler designed for melee combat, and in the other, a flail with spines as sharp as an adult’s head.
“This is alright.”
Han Jun-woo also readied himself.
With a longsword in his right scabbard and a rapier in his left, he had sixteen throwing daggers strapped to both thighs, and a single short sword on each wrist.
Fully decked out in weapons, Jun-woo looked the happiest I had ever seen him.
“Do you like it?”
“A lot. Thank you for the gift.”
“It’s great. Please convey my gratitude to your mother.”
“Me too.”
All this had been prepared by my mother. Since she knew I made my first friend and even joined us for a meal, despite my persistent insistence that it wasn’t necessary, she ended up taking care of all this.
Warm, grateful, and something in my chest swelled.
So as a good son, how could I just stay still?
“Let’s go pay for the food.”
I stepped into the Gate with the great sword slung over my shoulder.
